NEW YORK (AP) - Alabama is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll, moving past Southern California after its resounding victory against Michigan. The Gamecocks held steady at No. 9.
After its 17-13 win over Vanderbilt, South Carolina is now tied with West Virginia in the No. 9 spot. Each team received 980 points.
The Crimson Tide swayed more than enough voters with its 41-14 win Saturday night in Texas to overtake the preseason No. 1 Trojans, who beat Hawaii 49-10. Southern Cal entered that game a 40-point favorite at home.
The Tide receives 45 first-place votes, up 28 from last week. Southern Cal draws 11 first-place votes and No. 3 LSU four.
Rounding out the top 10 are Oregon at No. 4, Oklahoma at No.5, Florida State at No. 6, Georgia at No. 7 and Arkansas at No. 8.
It's the 47th time Alabama has been No. 1, the 16th under coach Nick Saban.
This is the 86th time in the 76-year history of the AP media poll that the top-ranked team won and dropped in the rankings. It's happened at least once every year since 2007.
The Gamecocks have been ranked in the national top 25 for
33 consecutive weeks, dating back to the second week of the 2010 season, the
longest stretch in school history.
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